Freshman housing planning continues

ast year the University decided to create a freshman housing program, beginning in fall 2001. Strengthening the freshman experience and, through this, all students' connection to the University is the principal goal. This decision set a critical planning process in motion. Last spring, the Freshman Housing Implementation Committee, co-chaired by Dean of the College William Scott Green and Vice President and University Dean of Students Paul Burgett, was created to include faculty, students, and administrators in this process. Given the magnitude of the planning and decision-making process and the critical timelines, the committee has met continuously through the summer and addressed several important issues.

Based on a review of successful programs elsewhere and the University's own unique residential building configurations with their associated program opportunities and limitations, the committee concluded that the success of the freshman housing program depended on a single, coherent geographic location. To that end, the Quad residential area has been identified as the best available site.

With the site determined, planning has moved to the next level of detail. Subcommittees are focusing now on the impact of freshman housing, special interest housing and student governance issues, upperclass student housing, and involvement of non-freshmen students. Academic, social, as well as recreational program and staffing considerations in the freshman living areas also are under study.

The committee and its subcommittees will continue to meet through the remainder of the summer. In early fall, the process will seek advice from the larger University community, assist those who are impacted by these developments, and ultimately implement the final plans for the inaugural freshman housing class in fall 2001.

Members of the committee, in addition to Burgett and Green, are Mary-Beth Cooper, associate vice president and River Campus dean of students; Logan Hazen, director of Residential Life; Laurel Contomanolis, associate director of Residential Life; Dale McAdam, dean for freshmen; Priscilla Auchincloss, dean for sophomores; Ariel Anbar, assistant professor of earth and environmental sciences and chemistry; Gerald Gamm, associate professor of political science; Deborah Rossen-Knill, director of the College Writing Program; George VanderZwaag, director of athletics and recreation; and students Kimberly Chesebrough '02, Damon Dimmick '01, LaFleur Stephens '02, Dustin Tingley '01, and Meng Wang '02.

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